I still remember crawling into an orange pup tent as a child, excited for my first campout in my parents’ wooded backyard. I can hear the crickets and tree frogs in my memories … and smell the overpowering scents of a DEET-based mosquito spray. It was hard to get to sleep, partially because of the different sounds right outside my tent, but also because of the horrid fragrance.

I have to believe the synthetic deep woods repellent couldn’t be too great for my health.

The trouble with insect repellents, though, is that completely safe choices are hard to find. You want to make sure to use an effective product to keep bugs away. But at the same time, you don’t want to compromise safe standards.

The bad news: there’s no sure, completely safe way to prevent bug bites. All bug repellents have pros and cons.

The good news: some repellents are effective and relatively low in toxicity – provided you take precautions when using them, particularly on children.

The surprising news: among the four repellent chemicals EWG found to be top picks is DEET, which is widely used but much maligned. DEET’s safety profile is better than many people assume. Its effectiveness at preventing bites is approached by only a few other repellent ingredients.

DEET isn’t a perfect choice nor the only choice. But weighed against the consequences of Lyme disease and West Nile virus, we believe it is a reasonable one.

What if there’s another alternative?

Personally, I hate using synthetic products if a natural product is effective. In my own experience, I prefer to use insect repellents made out of essential oil blends … or even by making my own potent repellent with fresh basil leaves and hot water.

White vinegar – Useful as an antiseptic, a help with circulation, and a great pH regulator.

Witch hazel – Used as a carrier for the oil combination, witch hazel also has anti-inflammatory properties.

With this group of effective, natural ingredients, there’s no need to worry about exposing yourself to hazardous synthetic sprays. Butterbean Organics is natural, safe, effective – and their products are recommended by the Environmental Working Group and Cool Mom Picks.

Hilary Kimes Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and journalist. She writes about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. Short and sweet - like her writing - Hilary is the author of several healthy living eBooks.